Timing mechanism for automatic folders



Oct. 3, 1950 H. D. ABELL E-r AL 2,524,415

TIMING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FOLDERS '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 1946 Oct. 3, 1950 H. D. ABELL ET AL 2,524,415

TIMING MEcHANsM FOR AUTOMATIC FoLnERs Filed Jan. 25, 1946 'T Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TORS ATTCI R N EYB Oct. 3, 1950 H. D. ABELL ET AL 2,524,415

TIMING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FOLDERS Filed Jan, 25, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS ATT'D R N EYB Oct. 3, 1950 H. D. ABELL Er AL 2,524,415

TIMING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FOLDERS Filed Jan. 25, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTRS ATTDRN EYE Oct. 3, 1950 H. D. ABELL Er Al. 2,524,415

TIMING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FOLDERS Filed Jan. 25, 194s 'r sheets-sheet Ys @ya i MIUR Il Il Il Il IIIIIIIIIIII Il Ill IIIIII llllllll II'II Il Il Il Il Il IN VENTORS ATTD R N EYB Oct. 3, 1950 H. D. ABELL Er AL 2,524,415

TIMING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FoLDERs Filed Jan. 25, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 AT'TD R N EYB Patented Oct. 3, 1950 UNITED `STATES PATEN T 'OFFICE- TIMING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FOLDERS Harry D. Abell and Homer E. Abell, St. Albans, Vt.

Claims. 1

This invention relates to an automatic folding machine and more particularly to an automatic folder for all flat workpassing through a. laundry ironer; especially to such machines as are of the type having measuring `mechanisms operating on the flat work and controlling the operation of the folding mechanism.

One object of the invention is to provide folder controlling mechanism sufliciently compact to allow for its location between the conveying tapes,` whereby a unitary machine may be compactly `constructed withaplurality of lanes each having a plurality of folding and controlling mechanisms. A further object is to improve the driving and `clutching mechanism which controls the opera- I `tion of the folders.

Another obje-ct of` the invention is to provide a machine that is simple in construction, easy to operate, of economical manufacturing cost and inexpensive in maintenance thereof.

With the above and other objects and aclvantages in view, the invention consists of the novel details of construction,.arrangement and `combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure .2 is a top plan view of the folding and control mechanism .as applied to the machine;

Figure 3 is a sectional `View thereof on the line .3-3 .ofFigure 2; f

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the control mechanism;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line i-t `of Figure 5;

`Figure 7 is a sectional View looking in the opposits` direction to that of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a front view of the control mechanisrn partly broken away showing the mechanism `in normal position;

Figure 9 is the same showing the mechanism in operative position;

Figure 10 is an enlarged view of the idler disc of the folding mechanism of the control unit;

Figure 1l is an enlarged view of a control arm of the equalizing section of the control unit and `Figure l2 is a sectional ViewA on the line lf2-l2 of Figure 11.

.Referring more in detail to the drawing the `reference numeral 20 generally designates the .machine embodying the invention, which `comprises the base section 22, front top section 24 and rear top sectionl. The sections are secured together `in unit assembly by means of bolts or any type of well `known fastening means.

Journalled transversely of the base section 22 in bearings 28 are the aligned shafts 30 :and`j32 on which are mounted rollers 34 over which are trained the plurality of carrier tapes 3B. Also journalled transversely of the base section22 in bearings 36 are the alined shafts 3B and 40011 which are mounted rollers l2 over which are trained the plurality ol carrier tapes 44. The tapes "36 are in parallel relation to the tapes but spaced therefrom.

Journalled transversely of the front top section 24 in bearings llt are theshafts 58, 5D, 52, 54556,

58 and G and brackets 72 mounted on the front of the section 24 adjustably mount the arms I64I thereon. The arms `mi extend forwardly of the section '2li and the adjustment of the arms are accomplished by `means of the opposed notches 56 coacting with the bolts 63 in the brackets `62. A shaft 'lll `fixed at the outer ends of the arms Sll'rotatably mounts a roller i2 transversely thereof and a plurality of carrier tapes 'i4 are `trained over the rollers 'l5 on the shafts dj, 52, 54, 56, 58 and Sli and roller '12. Also journalled transversely of the front section 2li in bearings T8 -are the shafts 8G and 82 on which are mounted rollers 34. A second set of carrier tapes Se are trained over rollers i6 on shafts 48,15), b2 and`55 in parallel contacting relation with tapes lll. `The carrier tapesli are-also trained over the rollers 84 on shafts and 82.

The set of tapes'll form a receiving table upon which the hat work is placed by the operator, and carry the work upwardly in cooperation with the tapes 3E. The goods pass around shaft Eil, then .around shafts 52 and 54, and then move downwardly past the roll 'I6 on shaft '56. At this point the tapes 'M andafi separate, the former passing downwardly around shaft 58 and the latter upwardly aroundshaftl. The goods hang down "freely in front of a folder blade carrier `|32` op- 'erated by a control mechanism l54 (Fig. 3l,t he

construction of which will appear later. As shown in Fig. 2, the folder actually consists of a plurality of blades lllii passing through the spaces between adjacent tapes of the set lll. The goodsareprevented lfrom reaching the oor by the tapes LM.

Journalled transversely of the rear top section 12in in bearings are the shafts 90, 92, Sil, 96 and "98 on vwhich are mounted rollers IUD. A plurality of carrier tapes '|92 are trained over the rollers flli on the shaftsii, dll, SS and 98, and under the roller l on the shaft 92. Also journalled transparallel relation with the bar |28.

versely of the rear top section 28 in bearings |84 are the shafts |88, |88, ||8, H2 and lill on which are mounted rollers H8. A second set of carrier tapes ||8 are trained over the rollers ||8 on the shafts |88, |88, and |62 and under roller on shaft ||8 and over rollers |88 on shafts 98, 98 and under roller |88 on the shaft 92 in parallel contacting relation with tapes |82. Also journalled transversely of the section 28 in alinement with shaft l|f| in bearings |28 is the shaft |22 having the roller |24 mounted thereon. The delivering tapes |28 are trained over the roller |24 on the shaft |22 and the roller H8 on the shaft H4.

The sets of tapes |82 and i8 come together between the shafts 8l.) and l@ in front of the folder blade mounted on carrier |32. As the blade is advanced it carries the goods between the two tapes |82 and l |8. The goods are thus folded and arecarried away by the tapes upwardly on an inclined path, around shafts 84 and 88, and finally downwardly in front of a folder operated by a second control mechanism |54. The blade of this second folder carries the goods into the bite of tapes I8 (which left tapes |82 as they passed around shaft 88) and |28. These tapes cause the second fold to be formed and discharge the doubly folded goods from the machine. If but one fold is to be made the second folder can be made inoperative, in which case the singly folded goods are discharged from between tapes |82 and ||8 upon the upper run of tapes 38.

Mounted transversely on each of the sections 24 and 28 is an angle iron bar |28 on which are mounted spaced roller brackets |88 which function as upper guide rollers for the rods |32. The rods |32 extend at right angles to the bar |28 and at their ends are connected to the angle iron bar |34 which is movable relative to the section in A second bar |38 parallel to bars |28 and |84 and in spaced relation to bar |28 is also mounted transversely of the section. Spaced roller brackets |87 are secured to the bar |38 in a position to act as lower guide rollers for the rods |32. The ends of the bars |28 and |88 are secured to angle bars |38 which in turn are secured by fasteners |48 to the section at right angles to bars |28, |34 and |38. The bars |38 act as a track or guideway for the bar |34.

Secured to the upwardly disposed flange |42 of the bar |34 by fasteners |44 are the forwardly extending fingers |88 referred to above as passing through the spaces between adjacent tapes of the sets |82 and H8.

The inner rods |82 are bridged at their outer ends by a bar |48 and a coupling |58 at the center of the bar |48 is connected to a cable |52 which enters the control mechanism |54 mounted on the angle iron bar |58.

A stud V18 secured to the top of the housing |58 on the wall |84 receives one end of a coil spring |72, the other end of which is connected to a stud |78 on the bar |88 thereby tensioning the bar |34 as will be later explained.

The control mechanism |54 has a double function, in general similar to that of conventional folding controllers, one being the measurement of the goods to determine the midpoint and the other the activation of the folder at the exact time that the midpoint comes into position to be folded. The control mechanism is set in operation by a trip 288 to be described below, which is depressed by the passage of the front end and released by the passage of the rear end of the goods. Depression of the trip starts in motion the travel of a control arm within ,mechanism |54 at a speed proportional to half the speed of the goods. Release of the trip transfers the arm to a speed having the same ratio to the full speed of the goods. When this occurs the arm has been set, by its half speed motion, at a position corresponding to the midpoint of the goods. As full speed motion continues the arm reaches a position where it sets in motion the operation of the folder justl as the midpoint of the goods arrives opposite it. In general, mechanisms operating on this basic principle are well known, and the features in which the present invention is an improvement thereon will appear below.

The control mechanism |58 comprises a housing |58 having sides |88 and |82 and a peripheral wall |64 held within a rabbet |88 in each of the walls. The side walls are flanged at |68 for attachment to the bar |58. Journaled at |18 in the side walls are parallel shafts |'8 and |88. The former of these is the drive shaft, receiving motion from any desired source so that its speed is in a constant proportion to that of the conveying tapes. A gear |82 keyed to shaft |'|8 drives a gear |88 keyed to shaft |88 through an idler gear |86 mounted on a stub axle |88.

The driving cable |52 for operating the folder enters the housing |58 through opening |88 and is connected by a fastener |84 to the rim |83 of the idler disc or member |82. The disc |92 is loosely mounted on the shaft |18. The arm |96 of the member |82 has a spring pressed ratchet pawl |98 mounted thereon by the bolt 208 and the pawl is adapted to engage a ratchet gear 282 keyed to the constantly rotating shaft |18. A spring 3I| on the pawl |98 is positioned so as to lie in the path of an arm 228 (Figs. ll and l2), free on shaft |88, when the arm has been carried directly under it by mechanism to be described. When this happens the pawl is caused to engage the constantly rotating ratchet 282 and the idler disc |92 turned in a direction to wind up the cable |52. This pull on the cable moves the folder into the bite of the conveying tapes to form a fold in the work.

The mechanism for actuating the arms 220 will now be described. As is customary in this type of mechanism a plurality of arms 228 (here indicated as two) are provided in order that an arm may always be ready at the starting point. Were this not done the folder would be unable to handle closely spaced small articles. This being a common expedient the operation of the machine will be described without more than passing reference to more than one of the arms. Keyed to the shaft |88 interiorly of the housing |58 is the ratchet disc 284 which is provided on one side thereof with a bevel gear 286. A paralleling related and companion, although stationary, bevel gear 288 is formed on the inner surface of the side |82. A disc 2|8 having a marginal flange 2 l2 extending in the same plane as the disc 284 is loosely mounted on the shaft |88. The disc 2I8 is driven by a bevel pinion 2l4 mounted on a stub shaft 2|6 in bearings 2|S formed on the disc and meshing with bevel gears 286 and 288. As the former is driven it will roll the pinion 2|4 around the stationary gear 288 at half the speed of gear 288. The disc will of course also travel at this half rate.

Loosely mounted on the shaft |88 in contact with the 4disc 284 are the arms 228 which may be two as shown or more if desired. The arms 228 are curved outwardly at 222 to form a bearing pavvl 33E is pressed towards the ratchet `by a spring 225 `compressed between `an abutment 332 on the dog and a friction member 228. The latter has an angular friction surface which engages the inside of rim and side wings 334 which `overlie the bearing section of the arm 22d `so that the friction piece and the arm move together in rotation. The friction member is thus free radially of the arm so that it may be Aatall times yieldingly pressed by spring against the constantly rotating half speed rim 2&2. If the tail is pressed downwardly as viewed in Fig. 12 the pawl .ttiwvill be raised clear of the ratchet 29d and the arm will be driven by the half speed disc 2lb through the friction member. If the tail is released the spring i226 will shift the pawl 3M into engagement with ratchet Zeil and the arm will be positively driven at full speed with the friction inerme-,r sliding along the 4half speed rim. it will be noted that the spring is compressed as the pai/v3 is 'Withdrawn from the ratchet, so that under `half speed conditions the friction drive is quite positive in operation.

A disc 232 is loosely mounted on the shaft |82 and acts as a spacer for balls adapted to seat in conical shaped recesses Mii in the side Wall |60. If the disc is rotated slightly, as it is periodically by the cord 2te attached to trip 258, the balls 'will be rolled out of the recesses 24U, converting the pull on the into axial movement of certain parts in the control housing, as will now `be described.

A live or movable rail, or ange member, i3d is loosely mounted on shaft itil so as to be capable of movement along the shaft. This motion is perg mitted, and rotation prevented, by headed studs" 335 (Fig. '.7) passing through holes in the member 236i and through arcuate slots 336 in the disc 232. A spring surro ids the shaft and presses against member to hold it against the balls 233. Since the spring presses at its other end against the arms it also keeps them in position relative to the disc 2M.

The fiange extends for three fourths of the circumference thereof and the re maining quarter is cut out to mount the convex concave flanged member 2M. The member 2M is secured to side wall itil through a slot in disc 232 by fasteners and is spaced from the side wall. by bushings `The `convex edge of the member 2M is spaced from the flanged member o ler 5234 as shown at and a release dog 252 is pivot ally mounted on the member 2M adjacent the edge of the member 2M by a pin 252.

Secured to the disc at right anglesthereto and extending through the opening 255 `in the side wall li is lug One end of a spring 26E? is connected to the lug 258 by the fastener .262 and the other end of the springis connected to the side Wall itil by the fastener 26d. Acable is connected to the lug 2.5L* at one endanct at the other end to a trip consisting of a bell crank lever 268 Which is pivotally mounted in the slot 21B in the bracket 2l2 secured to the section 24 adjacent to and coacting with the carrier tapes 1t and 86. The control housing and the associated parts previously described are retained in assembled position by bolts 2l l. When the leading end of a piece of fiat goods between the tapes depresses the trip 268 the resulting pull on cable 256 rotates the disc 232 enough to roll the balls 235i out of dehaving pressions Zlib. The live rail 234 is thereby pushed 'intoline Withthe rail 2M and will remaininthat position aslong as the goods are passing over the trip. Prior to `activation of the trip an arm 22D has been held on the rail 24d bythe escapement `as shownin Fig. 8. Depression of the trip,

throughthe resultant rotation of disc '232, shifts 8. This movement of rail 234. carries it beyond the tail 33t of dog 22l, releasing the latter so that the spring 22E will cause engagement of the pawl with `the ratchet Zl. The dog and :its arm thereupon move at full speed, finally passing pawi i598 and pressing it into engagement with le ratchet 2&2. Further movement of the arm carries the tail 33B under the flared end of rail 2M, which depresses the tail and removes pawl 33t from the ratchet 2M. The arm is ultimately brought to rest by striking either the escapemen't 252 or other arms 22o resting against it.

4As shown in Figure 1 there are tWo control mechanisms used and since the construction of one is similar tothe construction of the other it is believed that the foregoingdescription `Will be sufficient; the only difference being the location of the second control mechanism which is so positioned that the lever 268 will coact with the carrier tapes H32 and ils and the cable 255 is 4trained over pulley. 223. The second folder and lits control mechanism operate exactly like the first to fold on its median line the piece of goods passing it. `Since the piece of goods has once before been folded onits median line thesecond Yfold is on the quarter and three quarter linesyof the original `unfolded piece.

: on Shaft 55.

fShaft @il isprovided with a second sprocket 36D a chain. drive connection with the sproelet ifi `on the. shaft M2, the sprocket 306 on theshaft thesprocket Slt on the shaft f il and the sprocket H2 onthe. shaftls.: Thus rotajtionfisprovided for the rollers and carrier tapes of thefolding machine. l

The material to be folded is fed over tapes'lli and is` carriedlby `their coactionwith the tapes l over the trip 263 and eventually in front of folder 21h?. As the front of the material depresses thetrip an arm"22"e is released for motion at half speed, which is changed to full speed when the passage of the rear of the material releases the trip. The arm has, during the half speed period, traveled a distance having a predetermined ratio to half the length of the material, and thereafter moves at a speed having the same ratio to the full speed of the material. The folder and the tripping spring 3|@ of pavvl itt' are set so that the midpoint of the piece arrives at the folder just as the latter forces the material between the tapes. The midpoint of the piece is always registered with the arm 220 at the time the material runs off the trip, so that irrespective of the actual length of any piece of material it will always be folded at its midpoint. A second fold at the quarter point may if desired be made in the same way by the second folder.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Timing mechanism for controlling the folding blade of a machine for folding a piece of sheet material at its midpoint, said machine being of the type in which a folding blade is actuable by passage of a rotating arm past a fixed point, said arm being driven at one speed during the passage of the work past a fixed point and at double that speed thereafter; said timing mechanism cornprising an arm pivoted for rotation about an axis, a member rotatable on said axis and having an annular friction surface adjacent the arm, means for rotating said member continuously, a` friction pad carried by the arm, a ratchet mounted within the annular friction surface, means for rotating the member at half the angular speed of the ratchet, a lever transversely pivoted on the arm, having a tail projecting at one side of the arm. and a pawl projecting at the other, a spring holding the pad continuously against the annular friction surface and pressing the pawl towards the ratchet, a movable abutment coaxial with the arm and engaging the tail of the lever to hold the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet, a stationary abutment having a cam surface inclined in a direction to shift the tail of the lever into position to be engaged by said abutment, and work-controlled means to remove the abutment from contact with the tail of the lever to permit the pawl to move into contact with the ratchet.

2. Timing mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which the movable abutment is formed as a disk with a segmental annular flange coaxial with the arm and receiving the tail of the lever within it, said disk being shiftable by the work-controlled means axially away from the arm and out of contact with the tail of the lever, and a xed segmental rail substantially completing the circle of the segmental flange and having an outwardly flaring entrance end to engage the tail of the lever and withdraw the pawl from contact with the ratchet.

3. Timing mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which the work-controlled means includes a plate rotatable about said axis, a stationary member adjacent the plate, balls carried in openings on the plate, normally seated in depressions in the stationary member and in engagement with said abutment, a work-controlled feeler, and means connecting the feeler and the plate to rotate the latter to cause the balls to ride out of the depressions and shift the abutment in a direction to engage the tail of the lever.

4. Timing mechanism for controlling the folding blade of a machine for folding a piece of sheet material at its midpoint, said machine being of the type in which a folding blade is actuable by passage of a rotating arm past a fixed point, said arm being driven at one speed during the passage of the work past a nxed point and at double that speed thereafter; said timing mechanism comprising a closed casing, a pair of parallel shafts journaled in the casing, at least one arm pivoted for rotation about a first of said shafts, a member rotatable on said first shaft and having an annular friction surface adjacent the arm, a friction pad carried by the arm, a ratchet secured to the first shaft within the annular friction surface, gearing for rotating the member at half the angular speed of the ratchet, a lever transversely pivoted on the arm, having a tail projecting at one side of the arm and a pawl projecting at the other, a spring holding the pad continuously against the friction surface and pressing the pawl towards the ratchet, a flanged disk movable axially on said first shaft and engaging the tail of the lever to hold the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet, workcontrolled means connected with said disk to shift it on the shaft away from said arm to release the tail of the lever and permit the pawl to engage the ratchet, a stationary flanged member having a cam surface inclined in a direction to shift the tail of the lever into position to be engaged within the flange of said flanged disk, means for rotating the second shaft, a second ratchet secured to the second shaft, a second disk rotatable on the second shaft, a pawl carried by the second disk in position tobe shifted into engagement with the ratchet by engagement with it of the arm on the first shaft, folder operating means connected to said second disk, and a stop for disengaging the pawl from said second disk when the disk has rotated a predetermined amount.

5. Timing mechanism as claimed in claim 4 in which the work-controlled means comprises a plate rotatable about the first shaft and adjacent a Wall of the casing, balls carried in the openings in the plate, normally seated in depressions in the wall of the casing and in engagement with said flanged disk, a work-controlled feeler, and means connecting the feeler and the plate to rotate the latter to cause the balls to ride up and out of the depressions and shift the vhanged disk in a direction to cause its flange to over-lie the tail of the lever.

HARRY D. ABELL. HOMER E. ABELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,474,781 Kohn Nov. 20, 1923 1,607,407 Mayer Nov. 16, 1926 2,034,040 Johnson Mar. 17, 1935 2,261,226 Clegg Nov. 4, 1941 2,275,964 Johnson Mar. 10, 1942 2,308,155 Clegg Jan. 12, 1943 

